Cabinet wage freeze has consequences for Sask. city officials

Municipal politicians in Saskatoon and Regina have salaries tied to cabinet ministers

Image | city hall saskatoon december 2014

Caption: Saskatoon City Hall is seen in the above photo. The wage freeze for Saskatchewan cabinet ministers will also have consequences for municipal politicians in Saskatoon and Regina. (CBC)

Mayors and councillors in Saskatchewan's two largest urban centres won't be getting wage increases this year.
Last week, Premier Brad Wall announced a freeze on the salaries of provincial cabinet members as well as certain Crown corporation executives and government employees.
Since the earnings of municipal politicians in Saskatoon and Regina are indexed to those of provincial ministers, the freeze also affects some city officials.
According to the City of Saskatoon, the mayor's salary is 85 per cent of a cabinet minister's total salary and councillors make 45 per cent of what the mayor earns.
In Regina, the city's 2013 operating budget states the mayor's salary is 77.3 per cent of a cabinet minister's and councillors earn a third, or approximately 33 per cent, of what the mayor earns.
Ministers made a total salary of $142,866 in 2014.